Columbus Cultural Art Center, Columbus

The Cultural Arts Center is an arts venue combining gallery spaces and dedicated studios for visual artists and craftspeople. Nestled within a striking historic building, the center provides a ceramics lab in its basement, alongside painting and weaving studios situated on the upper floors. The center hosts engaging, community-oriented arts classes catering to all skill levels, welcoming everyone from beginners to advanced artists. The intimate Loft Gallery regularly showcases small-scale exhibitions, typically highlighting one or two featured artists.

Constructed initially as a state penitentiary in 1814, the site was rebuilt by prisoner labor in 1861 into the Ohio State Arsenal, an Italianate-style brick structure originally housing weaponry and horses during the American Civil War. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1974, the building preserves historical artifacts such as an eagle-and-shield emblem from the battleship USS Ohio and a bell from the missile cruiser USS Columbus. It also briefly flew a proposed Ohio state flag.

Today, visitors can explore this storied past through tours that delve deeply into the site’s architectural heritage and colorful history. Adding to its appeal, the Cultural Arts Center features an Art Store that sells unique, handcrafted artwork created by its students and instructors, including ceramics, jewelry, paintings, printmaking, textiles, and more.